Watch Description
What makes the Springfield 104 unique:
The Springfield 104 presents a warm golden-yellow dial that has gracefully aged over time, carrying with it the character of more than a century. Bold black numerals circle the display, balanced by a recessed sub-seconds dial at 6 o’clock with crisp railroad-style markings. A set of heat-blued spade and whip hands provides both contrast and elegance, their shifting tones catching the light as they sweep across the surface. The “Illinois Central” insignia at the center ties this watch to its railroad heritage, reflecting a moment when accuracy and reliability were paramount.
Inside, this timepiece is powered by a 17-jewel Illinois Watch Company movement originally manufactured in 1917. Visible through the open caseback, the movement is alive with detail—engine-turned damaskeening across the bridges, gold-plated gears, and polished steel components that speak to the precision of early American watchmaking. Every component has been carefully restored to honor its history while ensuring modern functionality.
Encasing the movement is a machined stainless steel case with a notched bezel and a bronze vertically grooved crown, pairing industrial strength with vintage character. A camel-toned American-made leather strap completes the piece, offering a refined complement to the warm tones of the dial and crown. The combination creates a wristwatch that feels both rugged and elegant, suitable for collectors who appreciate timeless design.
In 1917, the United States entered World War I, and the demand for precision engineering surged as reliable instruments became essential for military and industrial advancement. At the same time, railroads like the Illinois Central remained the backbone of American transportation, linking cities and communities across the nation. This watch captures both histories—railroad precision and wartime innovation—preserved today as The Springfield 104.
Movement Manufacturer Information
The movement inside of this watch was made by Illinois Watch Company. We call this model "The Springfield" because the company was located in Springfield, Illinois.
Originally called the Springfield Watch Company, Illinois came to Springfield, Illinois in 1869 while the "modern" watch industry was fairly new but highly promising. City officials felt that the addition of industry to the city of Springfield would be excellent for the city's growth. However, after a series of failures and re-brandings, the company had a slow start until 1903 when they decided to manufacture high-quality watches only. Eventually making some of the most beautiful watches of their time, the company sold to Hamilton in 1927. Hamilton continued producing watches under the Illinois name for some time, but the original Springfield factory no longer stands.
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Watch Specifications
- Manufacturer: Vortic Watch Company
- Model Year: 2025
- Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
- Case Dimensions:
- Diameter: 45mm
- Thickness: 12mm
- Lug to Lug: 55mm
- Lug Width: 22mm
- Case Material: Machined Stainless Steel
- Crown/Hardware: Bronze
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Sapphire
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: Leather
Movement
- Manufacturer: Illinois Watch Company
- Serial Number: 3110141
- Manufacture Year: 1917
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What makes the Springfield 104 unique:
The Springfield 104 presents a warm golden-yellow dial that has gracefully aged over time, carrying with it the character of more than a century. Bold black numerals circle the display, balanced by a recessed sub-seconds dial at 6 o’clock with crisp railroad-style markings. A set of heat-blued spade and whip hands provides both contrast and elegance, their shifting tones catching the light as they sweep across the surface. The “Illinois Central” insignia at the center ties this watch to its railroad heritage, reflecting a moment when accuracy and reliability were paramount.
Inside, this timepiece is powered by a 17-jewel Illinois Watch Company movement originally manufactured in 1917. Visible through the open caseback, the movement is alive with detail—engine-turned damaskeening across the bridges, gold-plated gears, and polished steel components that speak to the precision of early American watchmaking. Every component has been carefully restored to honor its history while ensuring modern functionality.
Encasing the movement is a machined stainless steel case with a notched bezel and a bronze vertically grooved crown, pairing industrial strength with vintage character. A camel-toned American-made leather strap completes the piece, offering a refined complement to the warm tones of the dial and crown. The combination creates a wristwatch that feels both rugged and elegant, suitable for collectors who appreciate timeless design.
In 1917, the United States entered World War I, and the demand for precision engineering surged as reliable instruments became essential for military and industrial advancement. At the same time, railroads like the Illinois Central remained the backbone of American transportation, linking cities and communities across the nation. This watch captures both histories—railroad precision and wartime innovation—preserved today as The Springfield 104.
Let customers speak for us
The Movement
The engine that powers this watch is an antique American pocket watch movement. All the gears and springs that make it tell time are roughly 100 years old on average. We call these watches the American Artisan Series because we're celebrating the history and legacy of the artisan watchmakers who built this engineering marvel a century ago in the United States.
The Story
Today most pocket watches are scrapped for the gold or silver of the case (the outside of the antique timepiece), leaving the inside (what we call the "movement") as trash.
We take pride in upcycling these pieces of American history by salvaging as many as we can, then preserving them inside our wristwatches.
Our expert team of watchmakers restores the antique movement and then we manufacture a custom wristwatch case here in Fort Collins, Colorado.
The Strap
We partnered with Worn & Wound to produce a custom set of straps for our American Artisan Series watches. We now have 15 different colors to choose from including our two Horween Shell Cordovan options. These straps are made in the USA and are based on the Windup Model 2 Premium strap that Worn and Wound offers.
